Suspend AKC Privileges

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Author: Holly Foster

Started: June 5, 2005, 8:56:43 pm

Target: The American Kennel Club

Category: Uncategorized

Supporters:

851

Goal:

Goal Progress:

Status

Goal Met!

Thomas W. Sharp
Assistant Vice President,Compliance
The American Kennel Club
Re: Clover Svea Hedlund/Petition to Suspend Privilreges

Dear Mr. Sharp:

Several AKC members are extremly disappointed that you and the AKC have decided not to pursue suspension of Clover Hedlund for her theft and the neutering of Arlie Alford's Champion French Bulldog, call name Clipper. We disagree with the AKC's inaction. We think the decision is contra to AKC policies and violates the AKC Mission Statement, Objectives, and Core Values. The AKC's decision is wrong.

You based your decision not to suspend Ms. Hedlund because her misconduct did not involve animal cruelty. While animal cruelty is clearly grounds for suspension under AKC rules, we belive dog theft and wrongful neutering merits suspension too since the underlying policy is to suspend privileges for conduct prejudicial to the sport of purebred dogs, pursuant to the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of the American Kennel Club. Like animal cruelty, theft and neutering of a fellow AKC member's dog is clearly prejudical to the interest of the AKC and the sport of purebred dogs

On December 17, 2004, Clover Hedlund was found guilty of felony theft of Arlie Alford's Ch. French Bulldog, Clipper. The dog was stolen in April 2002 and recovered pursuant to court warrant and search in November 2003. While concealed by Hedlund, Clipper was neutered.

On February 23, 2005, an unremorseful Hedlund was sentenced to 60 days in county jail, followed by 30 days monitoring and 30 days work detail, ten years probation, and ordered to pay $4065 to the State of Minnesota for making a fraudulent representation on her application to the Public Defender's Office. Hedlund was ordered to pay Alford $10,000. Alford has filed a case in civil court seeking damages.

This very serious matter has been and is addressed in the judicial system. While criminal and civil courts do their best to punish thieves and help victims attain compensation, remedy is limited to incarceration, and monetary remedy.

While significant action has been taken by the courts, several AKC members-not just the victim in this case are dissatisfied and uncomfortable with the idea that Hedlund, in light of her misconduct, can keep her AKC privileges and show dogs at AKC events. We belve Hedlund has demonstrated that she is a threat to the safe keeping of dogs belonging to fellow AKC participants. The AKC must not tolerate Hedlund's wrongful conduct which cuts straight to the heart of the sport of purebred dogs; the AKC must do more to prevent and deter Hedlund and others from engaging in similar behavior in the future.

It is worth noting that while the court cannot order AKC to suspend Hedlund's privileges, the court, in is its sentencing opinion advised the victim to pursue such action.

In their strong disagreement with the AKC's decision not to take action against Clover Hedlund, the undersigned petition the AKC and its board and officers to further review the matter and suspend Clover Hedlund's privileges for a reasonable period of time, which we recommend to be no less than two years.

Signed by:

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Nancy Tuthill said 09/08/07, 2:58 pm (verified)

I support this petition.

#851

Mike Wyatt said 08/12/07, 10:49 pm (verified)

Dear Mr Sharp, this is very troubling, why aren't you taking this more serious. Please reconsider and do something to prevent this from ever happening again.

#850

Steven Hammock said 08/05/07, 1:10 am (verified)

It is 8/5/2007, I am signing this petition because Ms. Hedlund has been a resident of our apartment building in Bemidji, Minnesota for the last couple months, up until 8/1/2007. She lived in the basement area of our home with her dogs. During the time she lived in this apartment I personally never saw her take all of her dogs outside to use the bathroom. There were reports from neighbors that 9 dogs were living in the basement however I can only confirm seeing 5. Irregardless, she and her family locked these dogs inside the house for extended periods of time. When she left the premises the landlord and I had to rip up all the carpet downstairs, including the carpet all the way up the stairs to the entry way. The smell of ammonia and fesces was so horrible in our house we were worried that it was affecting our 1 year old son and the only thing that finally helped the smell was when the landlord poured bleech on the floors to sanitize them. I don't think anyone realized when he did it that there is a potential reaction between ammonia and bleech that can liberate chlorine gas (otherwise known as mustard gas!).While I was ripping up the carpet, I personally discovered animal bones inside the sauna stove and when I talked with the neighbors they told me they knew that Ms. Hedlund had a cat which was killed by one of the dogs (in their apartment) and left dead for days before they disposed of it. Nobody knew how they disposed of it (go figure - they burned it in the sauna stove!). If that is not strange enough, in the kitchen area of their basement apartment we discovered the lid of a bowl which had dead geckos/lizards that had been there long enough to become dried out and brittle.During the time that these people lived below us we spent many sleepless nights listening to what sounded like a pack of dogs barking inside our house. On occasion, we heard ferocious dogfighting, squeeling and crying sounds coming from the basement in the middle of the night. For the

#849

Tina said 03/15/07, 9:57 pm (verified)

Because this is not good sportsmanship. Who wants to see a dog breeder get away with such horrible acts against another breeder.

#848

Penny M Spencer said 11/28/06, 2:55 am (verified)

I support this petition.

#847

Sean Church said 08/06/06, 4:06 am (unverified)

If one can be removed for infractions far less minor for this, why then is there no action taken on the part of the AKC, particularly when it involves more than just the theft of an animal? Judging is in their vocabulary, but it certainly appears justice is not.

#846

Patrick Behrendt said 08/06/06, 2:54 am (unverified)

Mrs. F, I think this is the dumbest thing ever and I totally agree with your petition. Keep on going and I hope things like this don't happen in the future after this gets more recognition.

#845

AKC takes up too much time on Animal Planet! said 05/18/06, 6:22 pm (unverified)

I hate AKC tournament of champions

#844

Richard Demo said 04/04/06, 3:10 pm (verified)

Shame you nuter lady! SHAME!

#843

Mathew Berg said 01/02/06, 11:47 am (verified)

With the crime she did she should be out for life.

#842

Annie Lucky said 12/04/05, 3:03 am (verified)

I dont know why she stole the dog, but if she was convicted in a court of law of stealing then she should be banned from AKC events. People are kicked out for just swearing, stealing and neutering some one else's dog, no matter what they think of the other person, is not right at all. AKC is also starting to take it upon itself to be a inspection body rather then a registry and they are raising all their fees because of it. I can see why people are joining UKC and other registries. AKC is also backing the new PAWS legislation which will allow puppy mills to produce as many poor quality dogs as they want while limiting show breeders to only 6 litters a year. I dont think AKC is representing its members anymore.

#841

Andrea Smith said 12/03/05, 4:42 pm (verified)

AKC should never tolerate a THIEF. The theft was bad enough, but then she had the dog neutered!!! That is twice wrong!

#840

Art McDonald said 12/01/05, 2:11 pm (verified)

I support this petition.

#839

Larry W Dosier said 10/17/05, 2:57 pm (verified)

If AKC will not support legal ownership and possession of dogs by the registered owner by enforcement penalties, what are they good for?

#838

Amy Sadowski said 10/10/05, 3:34 pm (verified)

How pathetic that the AKC didn't think of this first. Are we the only ones looking at this case? AKC Open Your Eyes! You are supporting a Felon who is jepordizing your paying members! I will make sure that everyone I know hears about this - the grapevine reaches far and wide!

#837

Karen Adams said 09/21/05, 10:47 pm (verified)

Ms. Hedlund should be permanently suspended. People are suspended for minor inconsequential actions. This was an illegal crime of significant proportions.

#836

Robin Exsted said 08/29/05, 10:27 am (verified)

This is sad, she should be out for life.

#835

Helen Jones said 08/25/05, 10:10 pm (verified)

Shame!! If stealing isn't enough, why isn't permentally ruining a dogs future and career something to be suspended for!!???

#834

Roseann A. Davis said 08/25/05, 9:10 pm (verified)

That AKC refuses to suspend Ms. Hedlund for her criminal actions speaks volumes about AKC.

#833

David Autin said 08/25/05, 9:05 pm (verified)

I agree that the person who stole and neutered the dog should be punished, in the court of law and though AKC. It is pathetic that AKC has not suspended her already!

#832

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